Editorial Corner

In this section of the website, we highlight articles, videos and opinion pieces on events related to policing. The opinions expressed reflect the view of the author only. We invite you to weigh in with your comments following each posting. ​

At Unity Partnership, we have worked diligently to look at the challenges police face and to educate the public about how they can ensure their own safety. We feel police and citizens both have responsibilities in this regard. In a program about traffic stops, which UP developed in conjunction with two of the DuPage County police chiefs, we cite an example of an investigative stop. We stress that in situations such as these, citizens must “comply,” then “complain.” In his article, Evanston Pays 1.25 Million to Man for Stealing His Own Car, Jonah Meadows explores a controversial investigative stop in detail. It is a cautionary tale in that it illustrates how a bad situation can be made much worse. Once Mr. Crosby was identified as a suspect, a process unfolded which was troubling from many perspectives. In reading Meadow’s account and viewing a compilation of audio and video recordings of the incident, I question how much the police officers involved in this situation were taught to use utilize critical thinking and situational decision making. In the beginning of the released footage, a Sergeant of the Evanston police mounts a defense of the officers, stating that their use of force was completely in compliance with protocol. However, he goes on to say that the department is now revising the policy that suspects be “proned” in these types of stops, citing problematic issues such as location, weather, and the fact that it “gives a bad perception.”

Why did it take another incident which garnered national attention, reinforced the negative narrative about policing particularly in regards to people of color, and resulted in the payment of a huge settlement, for the department to institute a change? Even if we accept that the officers’ followed protocol initially, their recorded comments and actions both during and after the arrest demonstrate a lack of professionalism and a seeming desire for retaliation. These include the comment, “I didn’t shoot you mother f...., you should feel lucky for that.” When one of the officers became aware that Mr. Crosby had his own dashboard camera, he tells him,” if you are going to put us on trial, we are going to put you on trial.” Why did the police persist in pursuing charges they acknowledged would likely not be sustained? Even after the charges were dismissed, the article notes, the police continued to vilify Mr. Crosby, which impacted the size of the final settlement. This incident fosters a sense of mistrust and suspicion of the police, which sadly has become part of the public narrative.

How many departments are actively engaged in educating the public about their role and the rationale for procedures, and are also open to hearing and responding to the public’s concerns? The candid feedback and questions from the participants in our traffic stop programs demonstrate how essential these sessions can be to correct misunderstandings and diffuse tensions. Once an incident occurs, departments are often unable or unwilling to admit any wrongdoing. That appears to be true in the Crosby case. Change, like the policy shift Evanston adopted, is important; however its impact can be far greater when it is proactive rather than reactive. The willingness of departments to openly discuss their policies and practices, to invite public scrutiny, and to explore together the possible impact of the racial and the implicit biases that we all share, would go a long way toward establishing a foundation of trust. These discussions, as difficult as they can be, are often profoundly transformative. While we as the public must always “comply,” that compliance is more likely to occur in a climate of mutual understanding and respect. This will prevent future such instances from occurring and ensure the safety of both citizens and the police.

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

I attended a screening of the movie, “The Hate You Give,” hosted by the Neuqua Valley PATHS. PATHS is an organization within the school system working to improve academic achievement and leadership among African American students. They do a fine job. The movie is controversial in that it highlights the violent treatment of police towards blacks residing in the urban communities. It portrays the killing of a young black man, Khalil, at the hands of a white police officer who shot him because he thought Khalil reached for a gun. In the end, the movie takes a turn by focusing more on black on black crime instead of on the traffic stop incident.

The young lady portrayed in the movie, Starr, had experienced the loss of a childhood friend prior to losing Khalil. Also, she’s torn between two worlds, her peers from the upscale prep school she attends, and the poor neighborhood in which she lives. Her family is close knit and aspires to leave their roots behind to provide a better life for their children. However, her father insists that they remain…it’s home. After Khalil’s death, Starr feels she must eventually take a stand against the white world and stand up for her race, the African-American community...”no more,” she says, “no more.” And yet despite her efforts, the officer gos free, but drug dealers are arrested and sentenced to jail.

I was impressed with the panel discussion, which focused on how to build strong characteristics while living and dealing with unfamiliar space. However, there were several issues that were not addressed that could shine a light on how systemic deprivations play a heavy role in the entire community. There were additional panel discussions planned for the next day with other students which may have included some of these. To paraphrase Tupac, the hate you give a youngster can eventually mess up everybody. Our young people need to know how not to fall in such a trap. We, as a people must teach our children how to love, to know their history, and to share with them how we overcame many obstacles. There was a remarkable turnout at the screening, and those students who attended received extra credit. In the end, I appreciated the effort of the coordinators and thoroughly enjoyed the event. The saddest part about this movie is Khalil should have obeyed orders.

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By: Paul Scott​Featured Editorial Author

​At Jemel Roberson's funeral on Saturday, November 24, 2018, Officer Joseph McNeal came to the podium to speak. McNeal shared that he mentored Jemel having met him when he was seventeen. McNeil recalled Jemel telling him that he (Jemel) wanted to be like Officer McNeal. McNeal wore a T-shirt inscribed with the message, “Justice for Jemel”. His remarks included a tearful expression of his regret that if only he could have been there responding to the call. He said, “if I would have been there, my brother would be here...” He went on to add that it wasn’t really about him being there. It was about officers responding who believed in equality, justice, and restraint in the face of having the power to take a life. It was about recognizing that though a black man with a gun can be a criminal, that another black man with a gun can be a hero. “That’s what my brother was,” McNeil said.If you are wondering how it is that a Midlothian police officer was on the scene of this Robbins shooting incident, many villages have reciprocal enforcement arrangements due to limited resources. Robbins is a poor primarily black community near Midlothian. The Robbins police department doesn't have a website. It does have a Police One web page which connects them to the larger community of officers and departments from across the country and the world. The current Robbins police chief, Roy Wells, whom I met just a week before this incident, is retired from another department, and as I recall, has been at the helm of Robbins for four years. The mayor of Robbins summed up his thinking on the tragedy this way: “I wish it would’ve been one of our guys [from the Robbins Police Department] that came across that situation, because they may have been more familiar with security.” I believe what Mayor Ward was saying is true. I also think he was pointing out much more. He was pointing to the value of having a force that is diverse, the need to improve interagency training in reciprocal support arrangements, generally improving social interaction between people from various demographics and with the police as a profession in particular, and, the need for proactive engagement with the police by the entire community of citizens throughout the country. While this incident is currently still being investigated, this situation, and others, such as the recent shooting of the soldier in an Alabama mall, reinforces the often negative view of police, supported statistically, that minorities are at significantly higher risk of being killed by police than are whites in our country. At Jemel's service, I saw a young activist from Chicago, who addressed a conference in Naperville last spring. He made the point to me at the spring encounter that we must elevate the profession of policing lest its legitimacy be lost. We (Unity Partnership) continue to discuss policing throughout DuPage County and beyond. We are a changing demographic here and elsewhere, and we cannot ignore the danger of inaction. Most police departments acknowledge that these changing demographics present unique challenges. I think they feel helpless as a police agency to solve the challenge alone. They don’t seem to know what to do to improve relationships. Our most important role must be to tell our police partners the truth. We must also ask them to make substantive changes, not just superficial ones. We also need to continue to work with the community so that they can better understand the role and responsibilities of the police, and theirs as well. We have a lot of work to do.Paul Scott, Law Enforcement Committee